Inertia-type air cleaner

ABSTRACT

An inertia-type air cleaner is provided with a housing having an open end. A centrifugal deflector blade structure has an external ring positioned against the open end of the housing. An outlet conduit has an open end positioned against the ring from the side thereof remote from the housing. A laterally extending member is secured internally of the outlet conduit and is connected with a tightening rod which, when tightened from outside the housing, effects compression of the external ring of the centrifugal deflector blade structure between the respective opposing open ends of the housing and the outlet conduit. The outlet conduit is provided with openings in the side wall thereof through which air enters the cleaner.

United States Patent Rubinshtein et a].

[$4] INERTIA-TYPE AIR CLEANER lnventors: Sholom Yeltovlevich Rublruhteln, ulitsa Filed:

Jan. 27, 1970 Appl. No.: 6,252

US. Cl ..55/449, 55/457 Int. Cl ..B01d 45/12 Field of Search ..55/448, 449, 450, 451, 452,

[ 51 July 25, 1972 Primary Examiner-Bernard Noziclr Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [57] ABSTRACT An inertia-type air cleaner is provided with a housing having an open end. A centrifugal deflector blade structure has an external ring positioned against the open end of the housing. An outlet conduit has an open end positioned against the ring from the side thereof remote from the housing. A laterally extending member is secured internally of the outlet conduit and is connected with a tightening rod which, when tightened from outside the housing, effects compression of the external ring of the centrifugal deflector blade structure between the respective opposing open ends of the housing and the outlet conduit. The outlet conduit is provided with openings in the side wall thereof through which air enters the cleaner.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,664

FIZZ Z lNER'I'IA-TYPE AIR CLEANER The present invention relates to air cleaning apparatus, and more particularly, it relates to inertia-type air cleaners having a centrifugal deflector blade structure.

An inertia-type air cleaner, constructed in accordance with the present invention, is particularly suitable for cleaning intake air of an internal combustion engine.

Inertia-type air cleaners are known, which comprise a housing open from one end thereof and a centrifugal blade structure mounted internally of the housing. The last-mentioned structure includes an internal ring and an external ring interconnected into an integral assembly by a plurality of deflector blades. The external ring of this centrifugal blade structure is provided with an annular external shoulder positionable against the open end of the housing. The internal ring of the centrifugal blade structure has secured thereinside a laterally or radially extending member participating in the connection of the centrifugal blade structure with the housing. This connection is effected in this known air cleaner by means of a tightening rod having one end portion connected to this lateral member, the rod extending through the centrifugal blade structure and through the housing, the opposite threaded end portion of the rod projecting through the housing and being associated with a tightening nut.

In inertia-type air cleaners of the above-described known kind, the centrifugal blade structure is subjected to streses brought about by the connection of the housing of the cleaner with the centrifugal blade structure by means of the abovedescribed tightening rod. Moreover the centrifugal blade structure of this known kind of air cleaners is subjected to vibratory loads generated by the operation of the associated engine, whereby it becomes essential that this centrifugal blade structure should be of sufficiently high mechanical strength, lest it might be broken in operation. Consequently, in order to insure breakdown-free operation of these centrifugal blade structures of the known air cleaners for considerable periods, they are made of very strong and expensive materials, e.g., of steel.

It is, therefore, a main object of the present invention to create an inertia-type air cleaner, wherein the centrifugal blade structure is practically completely relieved from the above specified loads and stresses.

This object is attained in an inertia-type air cleaner, in ac cordance with the invention and particularly for association with an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing having an open end, a centrifugal deflector blade structure having an external ring positionable against said open end of said housing, said centrifugal blade structure being mounted in said cleaner by means of a tightening rod, said tightening rod being associated with a member extending laterally of the air cleaner, in which air cleaner, in accordance with the present invention, there is further provided an outlet conduit having an open end positionable against said external ring of said centrifugal deflector blade apparatus, from the side thereof remote from said open end of said housing, said outlet conduit having said laterally extending member secured thereinside, whereby said tightening rod associated with said laterally extending member is adapted, when tightened, to compress said external ring of said centrifugal blade structure between said housing and said outlet conduit, said outlet conduit being provided with a plurality of openings in the side wall thereof, for access of air toward said centrifugal deflector blade structure.

In an inertia-type air cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, the centrifugal deflector blade structure can be made of inexpensive materials of a comparatively low mechanical strength, e.g., from plastic material, because it is the housing alone which is subjected to the above-specified stresses and loads in an air cleaner embodying the invention.

Given below is a detailed description of an inertia-type air cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, with due reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I shows an axially sectional view of an inertia-type air cleaner embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction ofarrow A of FIG. I.

Referring now in particular to the appended drawings, the inertia-type air cleaner comprises a housing 1 (FIGS. I and 2) having an open end adjacent to which a centrifugal blade structure 2 is mounted. The centrifugal blade structure includes an external ring 3 and an internal ring 4, the two rings being interconnected by the air deflector blades 5 of the cleaner. The external ring 3 is provided with an external annular shoulder 6 which is positioned, in the assembled state of the herein disclosed cleaner, against the peripheral edge of the open end of the housing 1 of the cleaner.

The peripheral edge of a side wall of an outlet conduit 7 is brought, also in an assembled state of the cleaner, against the annular shoulder 6 of the external ring 3 from the side thereof, remote from the housing I.

The outlet conduit 7 has mounted therein a laterally or radially extending member 8 to which a securing or tightening rod 9 can be connected in the assembled state of the cleaner.

The rod 9 extends axially of the cleaner through the housing I and through the internal ring 4 of the centrifugal blade struc ture, the threaded end portion of the rod 9 projecting through the closed end portion of the housing I. When a nut I3 is tightened on the threaded end portion of the rod 9, the rod secures together the housing I and the outlet conduit 7, with the annular shoulder 6 of the centrifugal blade structure being compreaed between the opposing edges of the housing and the conduit, in which manner the centrifugal blade structure 2 is secured within the herein disclosed cleaner.

Alternatively, the centrifugal blade structure 2 may have no external annular shoulder. in this modification of the present invention it is the external ring 3 of the centrifugal blade structure itself, which is compressed between the housing l and the outlet conduit 7, whereby the centrifugal blade structure is secured in the cleaner, when the latter is assembled.

The internal ring 4 of the centrifugal blade apparatus projects partly into the outlet conduit 7 at the upstream end thereof, but is slidably engaged therein and not secured thereto.

With the centrifugal blade apparatus secured in the herein disclosed air cleaner in the above-described manner, it is practically completely relieved from mechanical loads and stresses, whereby it can be made from plastic or from other inexpensive materials.

Air enters the herein disclosed cleaner through ports I0 in the side wall of the flaring portion of the conduit 7, the ports being provided around the entire flaring portion and alternating with rigid struts I I (FIG. 2).

Slits I2 are provided in the housing I, through which dust particles separated from the air leave the housing I.

As has been already mentioned, the entire cleaner structure is secured in the assembled state thereof by tightening the hand nut 13. When the herein disclosed air cleaner is mounted on an engine, the outlet conduit 7 thereof is received about the inlet connection of the air intake manifold of the engine (not shown).

The herein disclosed inertia-type air cleaner operates, as follows:

With the associated engine running (the engine is not shown in the drawings), there is developed a negative air pressure in the outlet conduit 7 of the cleaner, which communicates with the intake manifold of the engine, whereby a certain degree of vacuum is created inside the housing I, which makes ambient air enter the cleaner through the ports 10 in the flaring portion of the outlet conduit 7 body.

While passing between the deflector blades 5, the air is given a rotary motion, whereby dust particles entrained in the air are propelled by the centrifugal forces toward the internal wall of the housing I, whereafter they eventually leave the housing through the exit slits 12. The air, now cleaned of the dust particles, is drawn into the intake manifold of the associated engine.

A test sample of an inertia-type air cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention and having its centrifugal blade structure made of plastic material has been operating for quite a long time faultlessly and without any traces of a breakdown.

We claim:

1. An inertia-type air cleaner apparatus comprising: a housing having an open end; a centrifugal deflector blade structure including an external ring positioned adjacent and against said open end; an outlet conduit including a perimetrical side wall provided with a plurality of openings, said side wall of said outlet conduit including an end positioned against said external ring of said centrifugal deflector blade structure on the side thereof remote from said open end of said housing, said openings in said side wall being positioned to admit air to the centrifugal deflector blade structure; a member on and extending transversely of said outlet conduit; a tightening rod connected with said transversely extending member and extending axially of said housing through said centrifugal blade structure and through said housing; and means external of said housing engaging said rod and attaching said housing to said rod in order to clamp said external ring between the open end of the housing and said end of the side wall. said centrifugal deflector blade structure further including an internal ring located coaxially within said external ling and extending partly into said outlet conduit in slidable engagement with the upstream end thereof, and air deflector blades interconnecting said rings to give a centrifugal motion to air in the housing, said housing having a dust outlet.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein said external ring includes an annular collar compressed between said housing and outlet conduit.

t i I 1i 

1. An inertia-type air cleaner apparatus comprising: a housing having an open end; a centrifugal deflector blade structure including an external ring positioned adjacent and against said open end; an outlet conduit including a perimetrical side wall provided with a plurality of openings, said side wall of said outlet conduit including an end positioned against said external ring of said centrifugal deflector blade structure on the side thereof remote from said open end of said housing, said openings in said side wall being positioned to admit air to the centrifugal deflector blade structure; a member on and extending transversely of said outlet conduit; a tightening rod connected with said transversely extending member and extending axially of said housing through said centrifugal blade structure and through said housing; and means external of said housing engaging said rod and attaching said housing to said rod in order to clamp said external ring between the open end of the housing and said end of the side wall, said centrifugal deflector blade structure further including an internal ring located coaxially within said external ring and extending partly into said outlet conduit in slidable engagement with the upstream end thereof, and air deflector blades interconnecting said rings to give a centrifugal motion to air in the housing, said housing having a dust outlet.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said external ring includes an annular collar compressed between Said housing and outlet conduit. 